PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Fishing crews from all over the Southeast have taken off to kick start the 2025 Bay Point Billfish Open.
Boats departed the Point South Marina in Panama City Beach at 9 a.m. Thursday morning. The Open officially kicked off on the water at 10 a.m. in a ceremony called the “shotgun start.”
“We go out, and everybody kind of single files in. Then we get between the two piers: the St Andrew’s Pier and then the county pier. And at 10:00, we have a blast off, a shotgun start. And all ninety boats leave at one time,” said Open co-owner George Roberts. Florida Attorney General launches investigation into Apalachicola’s water crisis The tournament has been a staple in Panama City Beach since its revival in 2023. Over the past three years, it’s seen a steady increase in boaters, from 56 in 2023 to 90 in 2025. Boats are expected to stay on the water for at least 48 hours. Crews only return to the Marina to weigh their biggest catches. This year, crews are vying for a prize pool that exceeds $1 million.
Throughout the weekend, non-boaters can speak with local businesses, enjoy live music, food, and drinks.
You can check out the full list of events this weekend on the Billfish Open…
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